“In that case,” Hugh said, “it’s very fortunate that you and I found one another.”
They smiled at each other across the sitting room, and Hugh thought, not for the first time, how much more pleasant it would be to spend time with Lady Esther without the presence of her overbearing parents.
At least they won’t be at the Kensington Ball. I can finally get her on her own and have a normal conversation with her.
“We’d love to see your Manor, Your Grace,” Lady Cliffdall said. “Will you be throwing a ball this Season?”
You mean, so you can examine the place and try to deduce how much wealth I have?
“I won’t be throwing a ball,” Hugh said. “There are so many events every Season that I’ve never felt another one was needed.”
“Oh, but I’m sure everyone in London would be dying to come to Hallowbinder Manor,” Lady Cliffdall said. “You can’t possibly be concerned that no one would attend.”
“I try to keep to the rituals my father set out for me,” Hugh said. “He never held balls when he was alive, so I don’t hold them either.”
“Perhaps when you marry, that will change,” Lord Cliffdall suggested.
“Perhaps it will,” Hugh said. “I suppose it will depend on the desires of the lady I wed.”
“If you askme,” Lady Esther spoke up, “a wife ought to be attentive to the desires of her husband. Were I to marry someone who had no interest in balls, I certainly wouldn’t insist upon having one. Especially since, as you say, there are so many in London every Season.”
“Esther, please don’t argue,” Lady Cliffdall said through gritted teeth. “It’s unattractive.”
But it wasn’t unattractive. Hugh loved that Esther had a mind of her own, and he loved that she had been just as unafraid to disagree with her parents as she had to confront him at the Bolton Ball. He was beginning to think there wasn’t anything in the world that scared her.
They finished their tea. Hugh thanked Lord and Lady Cliffdall for a pleasant afternoon, even though it hadn’t been especially pleasant. Lady Esther walked with him to the door.
“I’m sorry about them,” she said under her breath. “It’s just how they are. But they won’t be attending the Kensington Ball.”
He understood what she was saying.
At the Ball, we’ll be on our own.
“I look forward to seeing you then,” he said, taking her hand in his and lifting it to brush his lips across the backs of her fingers.
Then, before he could lose the will to do so, he turned and hurried out the door. On the whole, he thought, their first day together had been a success.
Chapter 17
“God,” Esther said, taking a seat under the elm tree on the grounds of her aunt’s Manor. “That was a disaster, wasn’t it?”
“I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as you’re thinking it was,” Eugenia protested, sitting down beside her. “I was watching from my bedroom window, and the Duke looked perfectly happy as he was leaving. He had a spring in his step.”
“Really?” Esther asked.
Eugenia nodded. “Really. It looked to me as if he had a wonderful time.”
“Well, I hope you’re right,” Esther said with a sigh. “Though I don’t see how you could be. My parents were nightmares. My mother was so transparent, trying to find out how wealthy he is, and how well thought of amongst theton,I’msurehe saw what she was doing. And my father was practically showing me off like a prize horse! It was so embarrassing.”
“What a gentleman he must be, to want to court you in spite of all of that,” Eugenia said.
Esther laughed. “You really do see the bright side of everything, Eugenia,” she said. “I’m so lucky to have you for a cousin. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know how I would get through this Season.”
“Your tea could have been worse,” Eugenia said.
“I don’t see how.”
“My mother was trying to persuade me to interrupt it.”
